Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) Stock Has Average Price Target of $379.94 According to Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy consensus: Among 21 brokerages, nine rate Valero Energy a buy, two a strong buy, eight a hold and two a sell. The average 12-month price target is $379.94, below the referenced share price of $419.19.
• Valero delivered strong quarterly results: Earnings per share reached $23.90 versus the $21.17 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 43.3% year over year to $46.1 billion, driven largely by higher refining margins.
• Institutional ownership remains substantial: Institutional investors and hedge funds hold 78.69% of Valero’s shares, with several major firms—including Bank of America, Amundi and UBS Asset Management—recently increasing their positions.

Shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the twenty-one brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have assigned a hold recommendation, nine have assigned a buy recommendation and two have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $379.94.

VLO has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $467.00 price objective on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $441.00 to $443.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday. Mizuho boosted their price target on Valero Energy from $300.00 to $434.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $401.00 to $394.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 8th.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 11.4% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 5,033,310 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,243,630,000 after purchasing an additional 516,975 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in Valero Energy by 9.4% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,969,320 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $733,660,000 after acquiring an additional 254,604 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in Valero Energy by 18.4% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,842,339 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $702,285,000 after purchasing an additional 442,177 shares during the last quarter. Amundi raised its position in Valero Energy by 45.3% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 2,584,976 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $638,695,000 after purchasing an additional 806,018 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 33.9% during the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,058,341 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $536,074,000 after buying an additional 520,642 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $419.19 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $120.70 billion, a PE ratio of 9.43, a P/E/G ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.59. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $393.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $310.61. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $159.90 and a fifty-two week high of $461.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The oil and gas company reported $23.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $21.17 by $2.73. Valero Energy had a net margin of 8.44% and a return on equity of 47.50%. The company had revenue of $46.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $42.71 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.66 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 43.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy will post 54.22 EPS for the current year.

Key Stories Impacting Valero Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Exceptional Q3 earnings: Valero reported adjusted EPS of $23.90, well above the roughly $21.17 consensus, while revenue increased 43.3% year over year to $46.1 billion. Net income surged to $6.8 billion from $1.1 billion, driven primarily by sharply higher refining margins. Valero Energy Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Favorable operating outlook: Management highlighted tight fuel markets, resilient demand, record ethanol production, improving renewable diesel and ethanol profitability, and expectations that fuel margins could rise again. The company also cited $9.8 billion in cash and disciplined capital spending, supporting financial flexibility. Valero Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Refining and Cash Strength
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts remain constructive: Barclays raised its price target to $443 and retained an overweight rating, while Wells Fargo lifted its target to $489 and also maintained an overweight rating. Citigroup increased its target to $490, although it kept a neutral rating.
• Neutral Sentiment: Refining-sector momentum is strong but cyclical: Coverage emphasizes that Valero and other refiners are benefiting from tight fuel inventories and unusually high margins. Those conditions support near-term earnings but may be vulnerable to changes in crude prices, fuel demand, supply, or refinery utilization. Valero kicks off refiner results with record quarterly profit on higher margins
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and analyst disagreement are weighing on sentiment: Freedom Broker reaffirmed a sell rating and assigned a $276 price target, implying substantial downside from the referenced trading level. TD Cowen raised its target to $400 but maintained a hold rating, underscoring concerns that much of the refining upside may already be reflected in VLO’s valuation.

About Valero Energy

Valero Energy Corporation is an international energy company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company's primary business is refining and marketing transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products used by commercial, industrial and consumer customers.

Valero operates refineries in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Its refining operations also produce asphalt, petrochemical feedstocks and other petroleum-based products. The company markets fuel through wholesale channels and branded retail networks, including Valero, Beacon and Shamrock-branded locations.

In addition to conventional refining, Valero has businesses focused on renewable fuels.

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